Managerial
Decision-Making & Problem-Solving
in Government Organizations
3, 4, And 5 Day, Hands-On Workshops For Government Employees
Decision making is a fundamental skill for managers. This workshop shows you how to quickly
solve problems & make confident decisions . . . to be recognized as someone who can be counted
on to get results — consistently. You will gain powerful new skills to use now. No theories . . .
this workshop firmly focuses on the clear, practical, non-mathematical how-to techniques of
using experience and judgment to accurately handle the tough problems and decisions you face
everyday. A Problem-Solving & Decision-Making Toolkit, on disk, for developing ideas, solving
problems, and making decisions is yours free in this workshop.
Competencies
The competencies addressed in this workshop are:
Conceptual Thinking; Communication & Persuasion; Tenacity; Use of Influence Strategies;
Customer Service Orientation; Initiative; Working through others; Judgment; Flexibility;
Standards of Excellence & Efficiency; Self confidence; and Entrepreneurial Achievement.
Who should attend —
For every manager and potential manager who wants to learn a logical, practical method to
become a consistently better problem solver and decision maker. This workshop shows you how
to handle the decisions that build your reputation. No mathematics are used in this workshop.
Some of the topics you will cover —
Introduction
• The Problem Solving & Decisions Making Toolkit
• The principles of Problem-Solving & Decision-Making
• Questions to ask about any problem to show you’re a world-class problem-solver
• Defining Problem-Solving & Decision-Making success
• Customer satisfaction
Problem-Solving
• All problems fall into one of only two categories
• Exactly what is the problem?
• Questions to ask to get to the heart of a problem fast
• Finding the real problem
- Getting a handle on the problem
Copyright © 2002, Technical Management Services.
All Rights Reserved.
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- Seeing the boundaries
Option analysis
- What are your options?
- How do you select the best option?
Risk analysis—using your experience and judgment
Setting standards & criteria
The evaluation process
Problem solving steps
“Trade studies” and cost/benefit analysis made simple
3 steps to innovative new ideas
Rate your skills as a problem solver—Self Assessment
Decision Making Tools
Learn how to use these tools for maximum impact–
• Force Field Analysis Worksheet
• Risk Assessment Form
• Consequence Table
• The Ben Franklin Balance Sheet
• Criteria Matrix
• Priority Matrix
• The Comparing Technique
• Option Prioritizing Matrix
Making Decisions
• The complete thought process
• Frames of Reference
• Making the decision yourself
• Key questions to ask
• Knowns, unknowns & unknowables
- How they fit into decision-making
• How managers make decisions
• Making decisions you can defend
• Negotiating solutions to problems
• Handling conflict
• Handling people problems
• Handling teamwork problems
• Assertiveness
• Decision-making techniques
• Decision-Making Process Chart
• Worksheet: Decision Analysis
• Evaluating your decision
• Creativity in solving problems and making decisions
• Increasing creativity
• Attitude and other affecting factors
• Communications
Copyright © 2002, Technical Management Services.
All Rights Reserved.
• Developing innovative objectives
• Format for innovative objectives
• Selling your ideas and decisions
- How to become more persuasive
• Innovative Idea Worksheet
• Questions for your personal development
Tenacity
Exercises
• Practice what you have learned on real-life problems
Note:
The longer workshops examine techniques in greater detail and offer more in-class exercises to
use those techniques in real-life work situations.
Copyright © 2002, Technical Management Services.
All Rights Reserved.